Light switch control



J. FANZOI Feb 24, 1948.

LIGHT SWITCH CONTROL Filed Nov. 15, 1946 INVENTOR.

Patented Feb. 24, 1948 UNIT EDT. STAT ES PAT ENT FF ICE EIGHT SWITCH GONT'RGII- .Iohm Fanzoi, Chicagmlll.

Application Noy'ember'15, 194 6; Serial-No; 709,893

fiicfaimst (Cl. Mil--54) This invention relatest'oalight switch control and particularly to a means for controlling an electric light in a closet, room or the like by means of a door or thelike. The invention is particularly adapted to provide a" simple device for use with aconventional pull-chain light switchto' be controlled" by a door. it structureembodying the present invention" is simple; cheap" to=manufacture and may be installed quick-ly and easily.

In order that the invention may be disclosed,

reference will now be made to the drawings. Figure- 1 shows a; top view partly in section of a deviheembodying the present invention secured metal or other rigid material havingmn-turned corners H andtl. Corners H: and-.- l 2$ are turned up to extend from the same face of the plate and are-apertured as shown. Eyelets l3 and l d are preferably providedatthe corner apertures toprovidesmooth-bearing surfacesa Plate I11 carri'es pivot pin 16- extending upwardly therefrom on the same side ofthe plate as: corners H and I2. Pivot pin I6 is located substantially equidistant from eyelets l3 and 14, the exact distance being unimportant.

Pivotally mounted on pin 16 is rocker plate I1, this plate being generally fiat and having four outwardly extending fingers l8 to 2| inclusive. Fingers l 8 and I 9 have a substantial angle formed thereby, while fingers and 2| in general will have a smaller angle between them. Preferably, though not necessarily, the four fingers are symmetrically arranged. Fingers l8 and 19 have attached thereto ends 23 and 24 of rope 25 having substantial stiffness. Rope 25 may consist of stranded steel or iron wire forming wire cable. The cable ends may be soldered or spot welded to fingers I8 and I9 or the fingers may be crimped to bind the cable ends. Cable 25 has collar 29 binding the cable to form small loop 21 at the mid-portion of the cable.

Collar 26 and loop 21 are small enough to pass through the eyelets so that the cable may be threaded through an eyelet as shown. It will be noted that cable ends 23 and 24 extend from fingers l8 and I9 symmetrically. When the cable is threaded through an eyelet, rocker plate I! will? normally assume a position like that. in Fig-- ure 1 where fingers l8 and. I9 are symmetrical respect" tothe'eyelet' through whicl r the cable passes.

Base plate t ll has apertures 35 and M at suitable places for mounting purposes. Thus, referringto'Figures-I and 2; top member 33 of a door frame may havebase plate I?! attached theretoby suitable screws 34; The base plate is atta'eh'ecl in such a manner that pivot pin it and corners H and lzextend downwardly toward the floor with corners H and [-2 being disposed within closet space 35. Cooperating with part 33 0f the door framei's door 36 mounted' on suitable hinges 31'.

For" actuating rocker plate 11, any suitable means such asangle iron- 38 may be provided. inglei ron 38 has=arms-3 9 and 46, one or both of the arms usually beingapertured for mounting purposes-1 Thus; as shown here, arm 39 has mounting apertures 41. A ngleiron 38 iscarried ondoor 36 by wood screws M- passing through apertures H. The angle iron may be mounted onthe door in any suitable fashion so that arm Mlwi-ll ei'iteri'dtoward rocker plate IT and be in aposition tocooperatetherewith. Pull cord ii going to lighting" fixture 4 5' is tied to loop 2i of the-w-ire cable. Cord 4 4' is pulled tightly enough so that" rocking of plate i l' will be sufficient to operatethe pullswitch.

Normally; the rocker plate is in the position shown in Figure 1 when door 36 is closed. Upon opening of the door, arm 40 of the angle iron is turned and engages finger 2B. When the door has been opened suificiently, arm 40 of the angle iron will trip the rocker plate enough to operate the light switch and pass beyond finger 20. The normal stiffness of wire cable 25 will cause the rocker plate to return to the position shown in Figure 1, even though the door is now open. Upon closure of the door, arm 40 will engage finger 2| and turn the rocker plate clockwise, as s n in ur 1, to actuate the light switch again. With the door fully closed, arm 4!] will sweep past finger 2|, and the rocker plate will again return to its normal position.

For a door with the hinges on the left side, as seen in Figure 1, the arrangement of cable and eyelet, as shown in this figure, is satisfactory. If a door has hinges on the opposite side, then wire cable 25 may be threaded through the other eyelet, as seen in Figure 3 for example. It is understood that the wire cable must be threaded through the correct eyelet prior to tying the light cord thereto.

tached thereto at spaced points, said member having the two points of attachment of said cable ends oppositely disposed to the fingers of said member, said base plate beingadapt'ed to be mounted in a door 'rame adjacent a door, an

ve the same through suitable angles, said ooped cable being adapted to be secured to a pull-chain switch whereby movement of the door will control the condition of said switch.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said plate has two spaced points provided with apertures through one of which the cable may be threaded for use with right or left-hand doors.

3. In a device of the character described, a base plate, a flat rotatable member having four fingers, means for pivotally securing said member to said base plate, an apertured portion carried by said base plate adjacent said member, a short length of wire cable doubled on itself having the ends threaded through said aperture toward said member, means for securing said cable ends to two of said fingers, said cable ends being separated from each other and at a sumcient distance from the aperture so that two resilient portions of the cable are provided, the free cable loop being adapted to be secured to the cord of a pull-chain electric switch, and an elongated rigid member, said base plate being adapted to be attached to a door frame adjacent a door and said elongated member being adapted to be attached to a door, said elongated member cooperating with two remaining fingers whereby, upon opening of a door from a closed position, said member is moved in one direction and, upon closing of the door, said member is moved in another direction, the movement of said member in each case being sufiicient to actuate said pull-chain switch, said wire cable returning said member to a normal rest position after each movement thereof.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein said base member has two apertured portions symmetrically disposed with respect to the axis of said member whereby said cable may be threaded through either of said apertured portions for use with right or left-hand doors.

5. In a device of the character described, a metal base plate having a generally rectangular Shapgsaid base plate having two adjacent corma turned up, said corners being apertured at the upturned portions, a flat member having four fingers, means for pivotally mounting said member on said base plate with the pivot axis being equi-distant from said two turned-up corners, a short length of wire cable doubled on itself, means for attaching each end of said cable to two adjacent fingers, the doubled portion of the cable being adapted to be threaded through one of said two apertured corners, said fingers retaining the cable ends being spaced suificiently so that movement of said member on its pivot from either side of a normal position is resisted by the Wire cable, said base plate being adapted to be attached to a door frame adjacent the hinged side of a door and an actuating finger adapted to be carried by said door, said actuating finger cooperating alternately with one of the two remaining fingers to move said member from a normal position alternately in opposite directions, said looped end of the cable being adapted to be secured to a pull-chain electric switch whereby the switch may be actuated by opening and closing door movements, said cable being adapted to be threaded through the proper upturned corner depending upon whether the door is right-hand or left-hand.

JOHN FANZOI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,686,633 Melahn Oct. 9, 1928 1,716,998 Beauchamp June 11, 1929 1,847,793 Sullivan Mar. 1, 1932 2,391,231 Edwards Dec. 18, 1945 

